James Richard LaCroix

James Richard LaCroix (Jim) was born January 19, 1928 to Lee David LaCroix and Florence (nee, Rouleau) in Wausau, Wisconsin and entered eternal life on June 15, 2021 surrounded by children and grandchildren in LeSueur, Minnesota.  Memorial services will be held at the LeSueur United Methodist Church, LeSueur, Minnesota on Saturday, July 31, 2021 at 11:a.m.  Visitation will be one hour prior to the serices at the church..  Interment will be at a later date at Ft. Snelling Cemetery in Minneapolis, MN.  Koldenfuneralhome.com.

Young Jim was a violin concert master in his junior high orchestra. Jim was active in baseball, football, and wrestling. He lettered in sports at Washington High School, where he graduated in January, 1946.

Jim served in the US Navy, stationed at Coronado Naval Air Station in San Diego, California. He served as Yeoman 3rd Class Petty Officer, Staff Supply Commander Fleet Air – West Coast from 1946 to 1948 and was also in the reserves for 8 years (inactive). After his active service, he attended Spencerian Business College in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Jim and Dolores (nee, Proite) were united in marriage on June 26th, 1949 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Jim was a 40-year employee of the Milwaukee Railroad and was first a boiler maker's assistant and eventually became the Chief Clerk for the freight yards in the Menomonee River Valley and was very active in his local Railway and Airline Clerks Union for many years, serving as trustee for 25 years.

Jim was an avid Packer fan and also enjoyed his Milwaukee Bucks and Brewers He also relished history of all kinds – and traveled the United States, by car, on many historical sight-seeing trips with family.

Upon retiring from the railroad, he and Dolores retired in Bradenton Florida. For over 25 years, he was very active in the Lions Club of Bradenton. He also volunteered with various school vision screenings and enjoyed participating at the major league baseball spring training camps for the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Sarasota County Fair. Jim received the Melvin Jones Award for time and dedication with the Bradenton Lions. The kids and grandkids enjoyed many holiday vacations in Florida with Jim and Dolores and in 2019, they moved back north to _Le Sueur to assisted living at Oak Terrace where they could be closer to family.

Jim was preceded in death by his father and mother and his son, David. He is survived by his wife3, Dolores; daughters, Janice (Mark) Hahn and Jeanne LaCroix of Kewaskum, Wisconsin, Judith (Jerry) Johnson of LeSueur, Minnesota and Joan LaCroix of Highlands Ranch, Colorado. Daughter-in-law, Diane LaCroix of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.  grandchildren Gavin, Elizabeth, Madeline, Alison, Kathryn, Lauren, David, Margaret, Mark, and Meredith and great grandchildren and numerous cousins.

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